French Connection pins hopes on Christmas

GARETH MACKIE

Fashion retailer French Connection today revealed a marked improvement in third-quarter sales as it pinned its hopes on a good performance during the festive season.

The chain, headed by chairman and chief executive Stephen Marks, said like-for-like sales at its UK and European retail business grew 2.1 per cent in the 16 weeks to 20 November, compared with a 4.5 per cent drop seen in the first six months of the year.

The firm’s autumn collection, the first from its new design team, has been well received by shoppers, while the spring order book for its wholesale division is “slightly ahead” of last year.

French Connection said: “Whilst the group continues to make good progress, the full-year results will as ever be dependent upon the performance over the key Christmas trading period.”